An evaluation of flexible fibreoptic sigmoidoscopy.
Results of 350 flexible fibreoptic sigmoidoscopy examinations showed a diagnostic yield of 30% compared with 6.5% by rigid sigmoidoscopy of the same patients. The mean time for the examinations was eight minutes, a distance of over 50 cm being visualised in 65% of the patients. Preparation of the bowel with a single phosphate enema was adequate in 95% of the patients. As an outpatient investigation for clinicians fibreoptic sigmoidoscopy is a safe, quick, and useful addition to rigid sigmoidoscopy and should result in a decrease in the number of barium enema examinations required.
D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D004241:Diverticulum, Colon / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D007417:Intestinal Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D020694:Sigmoidoscopes; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy / Q000379:methods*